If you have been anywhere near social media lately, you have probably seen a lot of talk about safety pins. In the real world, you may even have spotted a few people wearing them. You may have even seen “Star Wars” fans talking about it — more on that later.
No, the safety pin is not a new fashion statement — it represents solidarity with people who say they have suffered racism, sexism, xenophobia, Islamophobia and homophobia, amongst other manifestations of bigotry in the wake of Donald Trump’s presidential victory.
The idea for wearing a safety pin originated across the pond following Brexit. According to the BBC, instances of hate crimes increased after the U.K. voted to leave the European Union.
Shortly after Trump’s victory, African-Americans, Hispanics, Latinos, Asians, Muslims, members of the LGBTQ community and women reported finding themselves in situations of intolerance. So much so that “Day 1 in Trump’s America” became a Twitter movement filled with collections of stories from people across the country sharing their accounts of harassment.
The Republican president-elect ran on a campaign that alienated many Muslims, women, African-Americans and immigrants. Although a small gesture, wearing the safety pin is an attempt to show those who feel scared that they can feel safe.
According to the Huffington Post, the movement was created by a woman with the Twitter handle @cheeahs who goes publicly only by the first name Allison.
“It’s simple because you don’t have to go out and buy it, there’s no language or political slogans involved,” she told Huffington Post.
Even two “Rogue One” writers have joined in on the movement.
The writers who worked on “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” jumped into the political fray on Friday with not-so subtle anti-Donald Trump messages.
“Please note that the Empire is a white supremacist (human) organization,” screenwriter Chris Weitztweeted. Gary Whitta, who also worked on the film, followed up by adding, “Opposed by a multi-cultural group led by brave women.”
Both writers also changed their Twitter profile pictures to the symbol of the Rebel Alliance with a safety pin through it.
11 Accounts of Overt Racism From 'Day 1 in Trump's America' (Photos)
A Twitter moment titled "Day 1 in Trump's America" slates itself as a collection of tweets about "racist episodes POC [people of color] are facing now that Trump is our President-elect." Here are some of those stories.
These are unfiltered stories people shared, not confirmed by law enforcement or TheWrap. (One false report on Wednesday hurt everyone by giving ammunition to people inclined to deny all accounts of racist attacks.)
Content warning: These are not fun stories, and some contain racial slurs.
"I have a scarf on. Passed by someone on the platform today and he says, 'Your time's up, girlie.'" - Mehreen Kasana
Twitter
"Today, I was harassed by an older white man who presumed I was Mexican. 'I can't wait until Trump asks us to rape your people and send you back over the biggest damn wall we're going to build. Go back to hell, wet back.' After saying all of that, he threw the water in his cup in my face, gave me the middle finger, and ran off. It took every fiber of my being to hold my tongue and not chase him down. I'm in tears right now. I've never been terrified of being a woman and a minority until today." - Rhio Oracion
Facebook
"I WAS finally coming to grips with the stupidity of America. But then some off the wall stuff happened that pissed me right back off. So I am downtown and a group of white dudes are looking at a woman wearing a dress standing alone minding her business. We all get on the subway. When she walks past the group, one of the men yells grab her by the pussy. One of the dudes literally then tried to touch the woman inappropriately. The woman yelled and the guys laughed. A group of people and I literally threw the 3 dudes off the subway at the Wood Street. America is really thinking this shit is a joke." - Antwan Legacy Carter
Facebook
"Black lives don't matter and neither does your votes," was seen spray painted in Durham, NC.
Twitter
Chris Weatherd found his car vandalized with racial epithets. See the full video here.
Twitter
A woman walked into her dorm room to find that her roommate had built a makeshift "wall" to separate their two sides. There was a note that read "Hey Maria, Trump won so... here's a little preview of what's to come."
Twitter
"Can't wait until your 'marriage' is overturned by a real president. Gay families = burn in hell. Trump 2016," photo tweeted by Shaun King.
Twitter
"Went for a run this morning at 7a. I've been trying to figure out how I feel. CHILDREN high school age screamed at me and told me to go back to AFRICA. CHILDREN people! I'm not throwing a temper tantrum you don't know how it feels to be me if you don't GET how enraged and sad I am right now," tweeted by the woman's friend.
Twitter
A woman recounts her story of being harassed at a gas station by four white men. One walked over to her and asked: "How scared are you, you black b----? I should just kill you right now, you're a waste of air," and another guy flashed his firearm at her.
A man was followed into a 7-11 by a group of white men asking if he spoke English. They told him "chinks should get out of the country," harassed the 7-Eleven clerk and yelled "white power" on their way out.
"My first racist encounter after our new joke of a president, as I am at Walmart today a woman came up to me and pulled my hijab of [sic] and said 'this is not allowed anymore, so go hang yourself with it around your neck not on your head.' I am traumatized." - Maha Abdul Gawad
Facebook
1 of 12
One woman said she had her hijab pulled off and a black man posted a picture of his car covered with racial slurs
A Twitter moment titled "Day 1 in Trump's America" slates itself as a collection of tweets about "racist episodes POC [people of color] are facing now that Trump is our President-elect." Here are some of those stories.
These are unfiltered stories people shared, not confirmed by law enforcement or TheWrap. (One false report on Wednesday hurt everyone by giving ammunition to people inclined to deny all accounts of racist attacks.)
Content warning: These are not fun stories, and some contain racial slurs.